The next day, right after homeroom, Professor Evelyn dismissed us with a cheerful clap of her hands.

"Don't forget! Club Orientation Week begins today. The central courtyard is packed with booths, so take your time and explore. Choose wisely—your clubs will shape your path here at Hero Academy."

Her smile was bright, but her words carried weight. I could practically hear the capital letters in shape your path.

The rest of the class erupted in chatter as soon as she left. Chairs scraped, bags were slung over shoulders, and half the students bolted toward the door like starving wolves who'd just been told free food was waiting outside.

I stayed seated.

Honestly? I had no intention of joining more than a couple of clubs. Swordsmanship, maybe Travel. Leon had been pestering me about his so-called Hunting Club too, and fine, maybe I'd entertain that.

But other than that? No thanks.

Clubs were extra work. Events. Group training. Pointless drama. I had better things to do like survive, grow stronger, and prepare for the Student Council election I'd just dragged myself into.

So, yeah. My plan was simple: slip away quietly, avoid the mob of recruiters, and enjoy a peaceful afternoon.

That was the plan.

"Michael!"

A hand slapped down on my shoulder before I could even stand.

I didn't need to look to know who it was.

Leon's grin was blinding in my peripheral vision, his golden hair practically glowing under the classroom lights.

"Come on! We're heading out together. Clubs, man! It's the season of opportunity."

"…Season of headaches, more like," I muttered.

Unfortunately, Leon wasn't alone.

Behind him trailed Maria, Aurelia, and Chris—like a pack of predators closing in on cornered prey.

Maria tilted her head, smiling sweetly. "Don't tell me you were planning to ditch us?"

"…I wasn't," I lied immediately.

Chris adjusted his glasses with a chuckle. "Your face says otherwise."

I sighed, realizing resistance was futile.

And so, with my carefully constructed plan crumbling before it even began, I found myself dragged out of the classroom, down the stairs, and into the chaos of the courtyard.

---

The courtyard of Velcrest Academy had transformed overnight.

Colorful banners stretched across stone archways, fluttering in the late-morning breeze. Wooden stalls lined every pathway, each decorated according to the club's theme is sparring dummies for the Swordsmanship Club, taxidermy and monster pelts for the Hunting Club, a bubbling cauldron for the Alchemy Club.

The smell of sizzling food wafted from the Cooking Club's stand, drawing hungry students like moths to a flame.

Voices overlapped everywhere.

"Join the Beast-Taming Club!"

"Sign up for Gardening our plants bite back!"

"Literature Club! Free bookmarks if you join today!"

It felt less like an academy courtyard and more like a festival ground.

"Wow…" Maria's eyes sparkled as she took in the scene. "It's so lively."

"Of course it is!" Leon puffed out his chest like he owned the place. "Clubs are where the real battles happen."

"Battles?" I raised a brow.

"Of influence. Of reputation. Of legacy," he said with dramatic flair.

I deadpanned. "You make it sound like a war."

"It is," Aurelia cut in with a mischievous smirk. "Haven't you noticed? Clubs here aren't hobbies. They're miniature kingdoms fighting for dominance. Whoever controls the strongest club wields power even the faculty respects."

I opened my mouth to retort, but paused.

…She wasn't wrong.

Velcrest Academy wasn't like a normal school. Everything here, even gardening, was a battlefield in disguise.

Maria clapped her hands together. "Anyway! Let's not waste time. Come on, Michael—let's look around!"

Before I could argue, she looped her arm through mine and tugged me toward the booths.

I felt Aurelia's smirk burning into the side of my head like a brand.

Great. Just great.

---

We hadn't even walked ten steps before Leon spun around, eyes gleaming like a cat that had cornered a mouse.

"Alright, spill it!" he demanded. "Which clubs are you joining, Michael?"

His tone was so eager it was almost frightening.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "…Swordsmanship and Travel, most likely. And, uh, maybe your Hunting Club."

"Maybe?" Leon's grin widened. "Oh no, my friend. Not maybe. You're joining for sure. I'll make the paperwork myself if I have to."

"…That's illegal."

"Illegal?" Leon laughed. "It's destiny."

I was about to argue when Maria suddenly spoke up, her voice carrying a suspiciously light tone.

"What about the Cooking Club?"

"…The what now?"

She puffed her cheeks slightly, looking up at me with a smile that was far too innocent to be natural. "The Cooking Club, Michael. You forgot already?"

Ah. Right.

She had mentioned it last weekend—when we'd gone out to celebrate clearing the VR Dungeon. She'd said something about making food for everyone. I'd nodded, half-distracted, and promptly erased the memory from my brain.

Apparently, she hadn't.

"I'm already signing up for three clubs," I said carefully. "That's more than enough."

"But the Cooking Club is fun!" she pressed, stepping closer. "You'll get to try new dishes, learn recipes, and—"

"And eat your cooking anyway," Aurelia interrupted smoothly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Right, Michael?"

My soul left my body.

Maria's cheeks went red. She stammered, "Th-That's not—! I mean, I don't mind cooking for him, but—!"

She broke off, burying her face in her hands.

Leon roared with laughter. Ryen adjusted his glasses again, hiding a smile.

And me? I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

"W-Wait a second!" I sputtered. "That's not what she meant!"

Aurelia only smirked wider, clearly enjoying every second of my suffering. "Oh? Then what did she mean?"

Maria peeked at me through her fingers, her expression caught between embarrassment and frustration.

"I—"

"Okay, stop!" I threw my hands up, cutting them both off before the situation escalated into something I'd never recover from. "Look, I appreciate the offer, Maria. Really. But I don't need to join the Cooking Club to enjoy your food."

The moment I said it, I realized I'd only dug myself deeper.

Maria's ears turned scarlet. Aurelia actually started laughing out loud. Leon slapped me on the back hard enough to rattle my bones.

"Well said, my friend! Bold! Direct!"

"I wasn't—"

"Michael," Maria mumbled, voice so soft I barely heard it, "you're impossible…"

She turned away, trying to hide her flustered face.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

This day was already spiraling out of control.

And it wasn't even noon.

-----

We'd barely survived Aurelia's teasing when the scent of grilled meat drifted across the courtyard.

My stomach betrayed me first. Grrrgle.

Maria perked up immediately. "Ah, that's the Cooking Club!" She tugged at my sleeve like a kid spotting cotton candy at a festival. "Let's check it out!"

"…I don't—"

She didn't give me time to finish. Maria practically dragged me toward the booth, her eyes shining with excitement.

The Cooking Club had gone all out. Their stall wasn't just a table—it was a whole setup. Two portable stoves sizzled with skewers of meat, a cauldron of soup bubbled, and trays of pastries lined the counter. They even had a banner that said:

"Join Us—Feed Your Soul (And Your Stomach)!"

Students swarmed the place like locusts. Free food was the deadliest recruitment weapon imaginable.

Behind the counter stood a cheerful girl with braided hair, handing out samples like she was some divine food goddess. "Try the curry bread! Freshly made!"

Maria inhaled deeply, her cheeks pink with delight. "Smells amazing…"

Meanwhile, Aurelia whispered near my ear, voice dripping with mischief. "She's practically glowing. You have to join now, Michael. Imagine refusing while she's looking at you like that."

"I can and I will," I hissed back.

"Cold-hearted." She smirked.

Leon had already grabbed a skewer and was wolfing it down with zero shame. "Mmm! Incredible! Join them, Michael. Food and battle—it's the path of the true hero!"

"Why do you make everything sound like a war campaign?" I muttered.

Before Leon could respond, Chris finally spoke up. He'd been silent so far, observing everything with his usual calm air. His dark hair fell into his eyes, but the sharpness behind them never dulled.

"Michael." His voice was quiet, but it cut through the noise. "Maria really wants this."

I blinked. "What does that have to do with me?"

He gave me one of his level stares—the kind that made you feel like he was peeling away layers you didn't even know you had. "You know exactly what it has to do with you."

I opened my mouth to argue, then shut it again. Damn him. Why was he so good at this "wise advisor" act?

Maria turned to me with hopeful eyes. "Michael… even if you don't want to cook, you could just sign up with me. It doesn't mean you have to spend all your time here."

Her tone wasn't pushy—it was earnest. That was worse.

I rubbed the back of my neck. "…Maria, I—"

"Michael."

Another voice cut in.

We all turned.

Nora stood there.

The pink-haired girl looked out of place among the crowd, her expression as blank as ever. But her words were clear.

"I'm joining the Cooking Club."

…Silence.

Even Leon stopped chewing.

"…What?" I asked flatly.

Nora didn't blink. "Cooking is calming."

That was it. That was her explanation.

(To Be Continue)

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